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Secret Service investigates agent who suggests she wouldn't take a bullet for Donald Trump

The senior agent may have violated the Hatch Act

Justin Carissimo

New York

Wednesday 25 January 2017 19:51 GMT

Trump with his Secret Service detail in November 12, 2015. ( Scott Olson/Getty)

The Secret Service is investigating one of its agents after she suggested that she wouldn’t take a bullet for President Donald Trump.

Kerry O’Grady, a senior agent based in Denver, published and deleted several Facebook posts saying that she supported Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign. She also admitted that she wouldn’t honor federal laws preventing agents from speaking publicly about their political beliefs. On Tuesday, the agent reportedly deleted the posts after The Washington Examiner ran a story them.

"As a public servant for nearly 23 years, I struggle not to violate the Hatch Act. So I keep quiet and skirt the median," she wrote in one post. "To do otherwise can be a criminal offense for those in my position. Despite the fact that I am expected to take a bullet for both sides."

"But this world has changed and I have changed,” she continued. “And I would take jail time over a bullet or an endorsement for what I believe to be disaster to this country and the strong and amazing women and minorities who reside here. Hatch Act be damned. I am with Her.”

The Hatch Act was passed into law back in 1939 and prevents federal employees from engaging in politics to promote nonpartisanship within the Secret Service.

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

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1/18 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters gather outside the White House at the finish of the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds attended the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters hold up signage near the Washington Monument during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.

Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters arrive at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights.

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters arrive on the platform at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights.

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Demonstrators protest during the Women's March along Pennsylvania Avenue January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights.

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A marcher holds a sign during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.

Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A woman chants while attending the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Mario Tama/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Mario Tama/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters march in Washington, DC, during the Women's March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A protester gestures toward the White House on the Ellipse near the South Lawn of the White House during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A protester, holding a Donald Trump doll wearing a pink cap, marches in Washington, DC, during the Womens March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters take to the National Mall to demonstrate against the presidency of Donald Trump Washington, DC on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters march during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Mario Tama/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Demonstrators gather on The Ellipse during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Demonstrators march down Pennsylvania Avenue during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protester's signs are left near the White House during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Mario Tama/Getty

On Tuesday, the Secret Service told CNN that is could not publicly comment on the matter but that it was aware of the Facebook posts in question, promising to take immediate and appropriate action.

"All Secret Service agents and employees are held to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct," the agency said in a statement. "Any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and swiftly investigated."

In her defense, the agent told the Examiner that she deleted the comments several days after posting them. "It was an internal struggle for me but as soon as I put it up,” she explained. “I thought it was not the sentiment that I needed to share because I care very deeply about the mission.”